By Jane Keller Gordon, Contributing Writer
Northborough – Three members of the Northborough Historical Society, Robert Marchetta, Jenifer Bakkala and Rob Berger, recently travelled to the Massachusetts Archives Division in South Boston in search of historical documents. They had their sights on seeing the Engrossed Act of 1766 (the 1766 Act) which established Northborough as a district separate from Westborough. (An engrossed act is one in its final form, which has been debated, ratified, and then copied and signed.)
They were ecstatic to find this document, along with a 1795 map, and a 1767 petition by the town’s selection, which was rejected, to make Northborough a town. Eight years later, in 1775, the town was incorporated.
Marchetta’s current interest in historical documents is driven by his membership of the Northborough’s 250th Anniversary Committee. This is right up his alley – Marchetta is an archives technician at the Navy War College in Newport, R.I.
He discovered an 1881 publication by the Massachusetts state secretary that documented in plain text of all previous laws and acts. That’s when Marchetta saw an image of the 1766 Act, and had an idea that the original document might be in the state’s archives.
Marchetta eventually connected with Jennifer Fauxsmith, a state reference supervisor and archivist.
“The following day she emailed me and said that they had the original document, and that I could come take pictures,” he said.
Marchetta headed into South Boston, joined by Bakkala, a professional genealogist, and Berger, a geochemist and Civil War buff. They saw much more than expected.
The 1766 Act, signed by Governor Thomas Hutchinson, state president, and speaker of the house on Feb. 24, 1766, was legible, but in need of restoration, which the group is investigating.
Next, Fauxsmith told them that she had the original 1767 petition. The document was in better shape than the 1766 Act. The rejection was written on the back of the petition, with no explanation.
There was more to come. Fauxsmith mentioned that the archive had a collection of maps of towns of all towns and cities. The group searched through the archive’s card catalogue and found a card for an 1881 map, which they had seen, and then, the 1795 map.
The map shows Solomon Pond, and what looks like the Boston Post Road, now Route 20, and Route 185. It also includes a list of committee members: Seth Rice Jr., Artemis Bigelow, Abraham Monroe, Silas Keyes, and Samuel Wood. These were important people, according to Berger.
“Wood led the town’s militia to the alarm in Lexington and Concord in 1775,” he explained.
There’s writing on the back of the map, which Marchetta hopes to decipher.
“Our intent is to display enlarged copies (of the three historical documents) at the Historical Society but potentially at events sponsored by the town for the anniversary,” Marchetta said.
Bakkala, membership director for the Historical Society, would like to see new members join.
“Even if you have a cursory love of history, it’s a great group to join,” she said. “We have 200 members. We hope to have 250 members by the town’s 250th anniversary.”
The annual membership fee is $20; $15 for seniors (over 65); and $45 for families. Currently, a student membership is free, and if they attend three meetings in a year, the next year is free as well. A lifetime membership is $250.
To join or for more information, visit: www.northboroughhistoricalsociety.org.